Sorry to disturb great native English speakers.

Queries about eight real sentences with modal verbs.
1a. You can take the car if you want.
1b. You may take the car if you want.

2a. Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
Yes you can. No you can't.
2b. May I borrow your pen for a moment?
Yes, you may. No, you may not.

3. May I play ball this morning?
No, you cannot, but you may play this afternoon.

4a. Could I use your phone?
Yes, of course you can.
(Not: Of course you could.)
4b. Might I use your phone?
Yes, of course you may.
(Not: Of course you might)

5a. Can you open the door?
Yes, certainly. or I'm sorry I can't.
5b. May you open the door?
Yes, certainly. or I'm sorry I can't.

6a Can I ask a question?
6b. May I ask a question?
6c. Could I ask a question?
6d. Might I ask a question?

7a. He must be tired now.
7b. He may be be tired now.
7c. He might be tired now.
7d. He could be tired now.
7e. He should be tired now.

8a. She must have missed the train.
8b. She may have missed the train.
8c. She might have missed the train.
8d. She could have missed the train.
8e. She should have missed the train.

Question:

① I guess that the meanings of each group are almost the same, but their (the group) tones are different, Is my guess correct?

② Does every group have the same meaning?

③ Is each group grammatically correct?
or, Which is/are grammatical correct?

Question

Sorry to disturb great native English speakers.

Queries about eight real sentences with modal verbs.
1a.  You can take the car if you want.
1b.  You may take the car if you want.

2a.  Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
       Yes you can.  No you can't.
2b.  May  I borrow your pen for a moment?
     Yes, you may.  No, you may not.

3.   May I play ball this morning?
No, you cannot, but you may play this afternoon.

4a.   Could I use your phone?
Yes, of course you can.
(Not:  Of course you could.)
4b. Might I use your phone?
Yes, of course you may.
(Not: Of course you might)

5a.  Can you open the door?
Yes, certainly. or  I'm sorry I can't.
5b.  May you open the door?
Yes, certainly. or  I'm sorry I can't.

6a  Can I ask a question?
6b.  May I ask a question?
6c.   Could I ask a question?
6d.   Might I ask a question?

7a. He must be tired now.
7b. He may be  be tired now.
7c. He might be tired now.
7d. He could be tired now.
7e.  He should be tired now.

8a. She must have missed the train.
8b.  She may have missed the train.
8c.  She might have missed the train.
8d.  She could have missed the train.
8e. She should have missed the train.

Question:

①  I  guess that the meanings of each group are almost the same, but their (the group) tones are different, Is my guess correct?

② Does every group have the same meaning?

③  Is each group grammatically correct?
or,  Which is/are grammatical correct?

Answer

1.  Both are good.  "May" is gentler than "can".

2.  "May I borrow" is more polite but both are fine.

3.  Perfect.  "You cannot" is firmer but means the same.

4a. There's nothing wrong with "of course you could". "Could" is gentler than "can".  You can also just say "of course" and end the sentence right there with no change of meaning.

4b.  There's nothing wrong with "of course you might".  You are simply affirming a positive answer using the questioner's exact words.  "May" is better but "might" has a lovely sound (to me, at least).

5b. I would use "would" or "could", not "can" or "may".  When asking a favor, use a past tense modal (would, could, should, might) rather than a present tense modal (will, can, shall, may).  They always sound more polite.

6. same as 5

7. all good

8. all good (with different meanings, of course)

Answer

The meanings are not all the same. Modal verbs are a long grammar point and while it is simple they have many uses which makes it difficult to get into through a simple message. I would recommend consulting a professional teacher. 😊

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